It’s been 16 years since Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na released but Manjari Fadnnis’ role of Meghna in the film remains among her most-remembered ones. The actress feels it's the film’s universal feel-good appeal that has immortalized it in the minds of so many people. In a chat with us, Manjari speaks about work, the uncertainty of the showbiz industry and her love for Pune.

Manjari feels that Jaane Tu... took a fresh approach to a classic love story and that’s one of the reasons it remains relevant even today. “I guess the dream of finding romantic love in a best friend will never lose relevance. To top that, the film has such fresh, unconventional, brilliantly written and relatable characters in Jai, Aditi, Meghna and the others that it will always find a connect with people,” she says, adding, “Everyone will find themselves or some of their friends, and see their dreams, emotions or confusions reflected in the characters in the film. I believe the film will be relevant not just now but in whichever era it is watched in."

Her Jaane Tu... co-star Imran Khan took a break from showbiz and has been vocal about the ups and downs an actor faces in the industry as well as the mental toll it takes on a person.

Ask Manjari if she has faced similar issues and she replies, “Of course, I have had my share of ups and downs, and emotional breakdowns. Along with its dreamy, beautiful aspects, showbiz is a very difficult industry to be in. No one deals with the number of rejections that people in our industry deal with on a daily basis. It can be very difficult on one’s mental health, especially if you’re a creative person because creative souls are generally vulnerable and very sensitive.”

The Grand Masti actress adds that her spiritual approach helps her stay on track throughout her career. "I chose not to be a part of the rat race as I believe everyone has their own journey. Sometimes you will be ahead and sometimes others will be ahead of you. It's a long road and we have to move at our own pace to grow in life. On days that I am not working, I keep myself creatively occupied with singing, reading, painting or by meeting people that inspire me.”

In The Freelancer, Manjari played the role of a woman battling mental trauma. The actress agrees that it is extremely crucial to address mental health just like any other discomfort we feel in our body. 

"Emotional wellbeing is important for every individual. We all go through so much in life and resiliently keep going on. But why let things pile up before we address them? I think everyone should consider seeking psychological counselling for emotional cleansing. There’s nothing wrong with it. I visit a counsellor and trust me, it feels absolutely liberating. I think if everyone starts taking this important step we’d be a country of free-spirited, happier and healthier souls,” says Manjari.

Manjari took a trip down memory lane during her recent visit to Pune, and made a pit stop at her alma mater, Fergusson College. It brought back a lot of memories for her.

“I can’t even describe the feeling of going to Fergusson College after so many years. It felt surreal. I went to junior college there and this visit was nostalgic. It was lovely to see so many dogs on campus who were well-fed and looked after by students. If this was the case when I was studying here, I would never have bunked college,” she laughs.

“It's alarming how certain men feel they can rape a woman and get away with it,” says Manjari, citing the rape and murder case of a female doctor in Kolkata, adding, “Apart from their upbringing, it speaks a lot about the system. I strongly believe that strong action needs to be taken to deter men from even thinking about such heinous crimes. With that it’s important for parents to teach boys to respect women and sensitize them about behaving with women, from a very young age.”

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